. >> members of his own party seem quite comfortable of sending the economy over the fiscal cliff. >> reporter: the president sent timothy geithner to the hill with had $4 trillion plan. it includes 1.6 trillion in new taxes on upper income americans. 400 billion in cuts to medicare and other entitlement programs. and $50 billion in new spending on infrastructure and unemployment benefits. the biggest stumbling block remain. the new taxes on the wealthiest americans. while some republicans here in congress are hinting they might be open to the idea the majority seemed opposed. >> raising rates on the so-called rich is the holy grail of liberalism. their aim isn't job creation, they are interested in wealth distribution. >> reporter: the white house insists the president won't sign any bill that doesn't include higher taxes for top earners. >> this shouldn't be news to anyone on capitol hill. >> reporter: the white house called the proposal an opening bid, republicans called it a joke. now republicans have not yet put any comparable plan on the table. they seem willing to accept half t